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Flender wanting to accompany him did not come as a surprise to Yu Xiaogang.
Spending the last few years together was enough for Yu Xiaogang to see what kind of person Flender truly was.
Greedy, stingy, cunning, vindictive, and devious in his dealings.
It fit the image of someone who had spent years in the antique market and managed to make a name for himself.
However, setting those traits aside, Yu Xiaogang was surprised to discover that Flender was actually a pretty decent guy.
Because of the Spirit Fusion Skill they shared, Flender had followed him and could be considered a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
To help Flender grow, the Sect had invested a certain amount of resources into him.
Given Flender's personality, both Yu Xiaogang and the people of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had assumed that Flender would take these resources for granted.
However, contrary to everyone's expectations, while Flender accepted these resources, he also actively did what he could to give back to the Sect.
Although what Flender did was negligible compared to the Sect's investment.
He did not accept it all with a clear conscience.
This made Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen think more highly of Flender.
It was incredible that someone could be both devious and cunning, yet also grateful and eager to repay kindness!
After getting to know Flender better, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect felt more at ease with their investment in him.
This type of personality was exactly what major powers preferred.
By showing kindness to such people, the Sect would eventually receive sufficient returns.
The resources used to cultivate someone with talent were negligible compared to the benefits they would bring to the Sect once they became a powerhouse.
Take Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen for example; the investment the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect made in him back then was only a small fraction of what he earned annually.
However, after he became a powerhouse, the wealth generated annually just by his reputation alone was already several times the annual investment made in him.
Besides that, there was teaching the Sect's Disciples, protecting its members, and serving as a deterrent to other powers.
More importantly, having a son like Yu Xiaogang meant he could potentially become a god in the future.
None of these were even included in the initial investment.
Other major powers would be green with envy at such returns.
It could be said that when a power was large enough, the resources needed to cultivate talent were never a source of distress for them.
What truly troubled them was how to ensure their investment did not go to waste.
This was also why major powers repeatedly tested and set up various obstacles for those wanting to join them, and even for their own family members.
Through repeated testing and obstacles, those being cultivated would understand that the Sect had invested in them, and they had to repay the Sect.
Those who could pass the tests would naturally continue to be heavily cultivated, while those who could not would reflect on why they failed.
If they wanted to continue receiving the Sect's cultivation, they would act according to the Sect's requirements next time, and in doing so, they would become what the Sect desired.
As for those who could never pass the tests, it only meant their character was lacking, and raising them would be like harboring an ingrate.
In that case, why bother cultivating such people?
Of course, this was the cultivation process for ordinary Disciples.
As for someone like Yu Xiaogang, who was a heaven-favored talent, that was a completely different matter.
And Flender was the type of person who followed the ordinary Disciple cultivation process and was able to successfully pass the tests.
Looking at Flender's pleading expression, a smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face.
"Then you must be prepared. My travels are not something an average person can endure. If I don't have time to look after you when the time comes, you really might die!"
Upon hearing this, Flender was not afraid; instead, he showed a look of pleasant surprise.
"Rest assured, I knew the day I obtained my First Soul Ring and officially became a Spirit Master that the path of a Spirit Master is not an easy one."
"We are all people who live with our heads on the line."
"Rather than being an ordinary Spirit Master who dies one day from being caught in the crossfire of a battle between two other Spirit Masters, I would rather die while on an adventure."
Flender spoke these words with genuine sincerity.
Because he had truly seen people die from being caught in the crossfire of battles between Spirit Masters.
The wretched state of those people, and the expressions of unwillingness on their faces even in death, had left a particularly deep impression on the younger Flender.
"...Fine, then be prepared."
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Flender's expression and read from his eyes that he had perhaps experienced something.
So Yu Xiaogang did not try to persuade him further; after all, when he was making his plans, he had already considered whether or not to bring Flender along.
The Spirit Fusion Skill between Flender and himself was called a Spirit Fusion Skill, but the reality was that Flender contributed all his power to strengthen the Little Dragon.
This enhancement boosted the Little Dragon's speed, perception, and so on.
Besides that, after the Little Dragon was enhanced through the Spirit Fusion Skill, when he and the Little Dragon performed Martial Soul Possession, his Dragon-man form—that is, the long-range attack form—would be further enhanced.
However, the Giant Dragon form, or the melee combat form, remained basically unchanged.
This made Yu Xiaogang's mind wander.
It was known that his Martial Soul Possession had two forms, corresponding to long-range and melee combat respectively.
And the Spirit Fusion Skill between Flender and himself made his long-range attacks stronger.
So, could there be another Spirit Master who could also perform a Spirit Fusion Skill with him, thereby making his melee combat ability stronger?
Although it was just a hypothesis, you have to admit it was possible!
As for whether this Spirit Master who could strengthen his melee combat existed, and if they did, who they might be—
Yu Xiaogang did not know any of this yet. He only knew that since it would strengthen his melee combat, the other person was likely also an attack system Spirit Master, and one with a Beast Spirit that was exceptionally outstanding in close-quarters combat.
It seemed it might be easier to look for them from that perspective.
But Yu Xiaogang recalled Flender's Four-Eyed Owl Spirit.
Hmm... how to put it? Before they met, who could have imagined that his Little Dragon could have a Spirit Fusion Skill with an owl?
This was a connection that was completely unrelated.
With Flender's example, Yu Xiaogang's image of that potentially existing Spirit Fusion Skill partner had already shifted toward someone with a tower-like build, explosive muscles, and a face that screamed "invincible."
As for their Spirit, it was likely a large Spirit Beast like an ox, bear, or lion.
Of course, these were just Yu Xiaogang's speculations.
After all, whether a Spirit Fusion Skill in the other direction even existed was another matter entirely.
Ordinary people would thank the heavens if they possessed even one Spirit Fusion Skill. As it stood, he already had three; if he were to have another, how would others even live?